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BRITAIN
Lawmakers vote against spanking ban
LONDON -- British lawmakers, after a passionate debate in the House of Commons, voted overwhelmingly yesterday against banning parents from spanking their children.
Some lawmakers argued that even mild spanking should be outlawed and insisted that children should have the same legal protection as adults when it comes to being hit.
But Prime Minister Tony Blair's government has shied away from an outright ban, fearing that it will be accused of intruding into family affairs. Instead, ministers urged lawmakers to back legislation that would allow mild smacking but make it easier to prosecute parents who harm a child physically or mentally.
Lawmakers voted by 424-75 against an outright ban. They will vote on the government proposal later.
Britain is out of step on the issue with several other European countries, including Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Austria, where all physical punishment of children is illegal.
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